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Hamlet
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;
And he, repulsed,--a short tale to make,--
Fell into a sadness; then into a fast;
Thence to a watch; thence into a weakness;
Thence to a lightness; and, by this declension,
Into the madness wherein now he raves,
And all we wail for.
KING
Do you think ‘tis this?
QUEEN
It may be, very likely.
POLONIUS
Hath there been such a time,--I’d fain know that--
That I have positively said ‘’Tis so,’
When it prov’d otherwise?
KING
Not that I know.
POLONIUS
Take this from this, if this be otherwise:
[Points to his head and shoulder.]
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
Within the centre.
KING
How may we try it further?
POLONIUS
You know sometimes he walks for hours together
Here in the lobby.
QUEEN
So he does indeed.
POLONIUS
At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him:
Be you and I behind an arras then;
Mark the encounter: if he love her not,
And he not from his reason fall’n thereon
Let me be no assistant for a state,
But keep a farm and carters.
KING
We will try it.
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Hamlet
QUEEN
But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.
POLONIUS
Away, I do beseech you, both away
I’ll board him presently:--O, give me leave.
[Exeunt King, Queen, and Attendants. Enter Hamlet, reading.]
How does my good Lord Hamlet?
HAMLET
Well, God-a-mercy.
POLONIUS
Do you know me, my lord?
HAMLET
Excellent well; you’re a fishmonger.
POLONIUS
Not I, my lord.
HAMLET
Then I would you were so honest a man.
POLONIUS
Honest, my lord!
HAMLET
Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man
picked out of ten thousand.
POLONIUS
That’s very true, my lord.
HAMLET
For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god-kissing
carrion,--Have you a daughter?
POLONIUS
I have, my lord.
HAMLET
Let her not walk i’ the sun: conception is a blessing, but not
as your daughter may conceive:--friend, look to’t.
POLONIUS
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